What It ACTUALLY Takes To Run A Marathon

[@mhendriks609]

I love this quote: A marathon is a 42km victorylap of all the training you did to get there.

[@mad_incognito]

A marathon is done in the training and not in the race. Consistency in your training will make sure you are physically and mentally ready and mental resilience is a big part of a successful marathon. Slow and steady brings your through a marathon - one step in front of the other. I went from not running at all at 57 to a marathon in 11 months but I did not start with a marthon in mind (that came 6 months into my running after doing my first half).

[@stolts34]

My first marathon was 2019. I had done a few half marathons and a few 70.3 Ironmans before. I trained but not as much as I should have. I remember trudging through miles 14-20 vividly, but coming around the corner to see the finish line 6 hours and 48 minutes later was one of the greatest moments in my life. I'm attempting my second marathon in January.

[@alertbri]

In February this year I started walking every day before breakfast. Today I ran 25K and think I'll comfortably be doing over 30K by Christmas. I'm 55 years old, and understand the power of consistency.

[@insiderugbywithmark]

If you want to run for fun, run a mile, if you want to change your life , run a marathon.

[@iamsillycaitlin]

Great video. I completed my first marathon at the end of August and feel like just about everything you said resonates. I spent about 9 months working up to the half distance, and ran a few of them comfortably first. Then I did a dedicated 18 weeks of training for the marathon. My weekly mileage was pretty consistent, although my longest runs were two 16s and a 19-miler. Although I didn’t do 20-milers as some plans suggest, I feel the overall volume enabled me to complete it-doing 4-6 runs per week. I finished with a 5h 10m time, and I was proud of that. I remember the moment things started to get hard-at mile 19.5. But I telling myself I was going to finish it. I don’t have delusions that I’ll ever be super fast-but I’m tempted to run another and I think breaking 5 hours would be a reasonable goal to set. I’m also a huge proponent of strength training.

[@emilychen9992]

I was lucky enough to half walk the Chicago marathon a few days ago, without any training. And I am not a fit person. Not recommended to anyone, but I think half walk half jogging for a full marathon is feasible for everyone even without training. I was super stressful with work and didn’t put any efforts for the training. Almost gave up the race the night before because I thought I was gonna die. But after doing the calculations based on the closing time, I think I would be able to get a finisher medal just by walking the half, and slow jogging the first half. The aids stations in Chicago are the best so far.

[@edbrown4628]

I’ve just completed the 2022 Chicago Marathon (3:49), and benefited from a consistent regimen over the prior two years. Three per week morning 50+ minute workouts (e.g., HIIT), plus five per week runs (speed, easy/fun, threshold, long, slow). Consistency has been the key for me.

[@Hacknerspeaks8938]

Loved the comment about forgetting the bad patch. So true. 20 plus marathons in, I remember the grind, but not nearly as vividly has crossing the finish line.

[@alainfreedom3159]

Just train and try not to get injured - dude

[@dreswan1]

Wrong!

[@chadweber1582]

Lol, I liked the last few comments: "You will forget all about that little bad patch, and that's why you will go back for more than one marathon" This is exactly how I felt after the CTM on Sunday!

[@A_D624]

I love that comment. Not everyone is going to run a world record marathon 😁

[@The-E-Dude]

If I had a mulligan in how I prepared, I would have: 1) Start running on a regular basis when I was 6, not 26. 2) Start by concentrating on shorter distances like the mile and 5k and over several years work my way up to 5 miles, 10K, 10 miles, several half marathons then after I max out on my maximum potential in these distances only then do I attempt the marathon distance.

[@236JS]

Honestly, going by how many guys I know who got burnt out running in college, you might have dodged a bullet

[@roadrunner708]

You’re on the money with point 2

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

The next question is this. How to prepare to run the marathon in a specific time. It's easy enough to just set a goal to finish. But what is the training plan to prepare to finish it in, say, 3 hours 45?

[@dreswan1]

Running a marathon to finish is NOT easy!

[@rjjrdq]

Yes, setting a goal is easy. Accomplishing a goal is another matter.

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

@@dreswan1 Walking 42km is not that hard. Running 42km is hard.

[@Kaisersozze]

Some people I see running a marathon look like they haven't run more then 1km in their life yet somehow they finish it. Almost to the point where it seems to lessen the accomplishment. You did a marathon? So what, so did this dude that's twice your age and 20lbs overweight... Makes me seriously question the amount of training necessary for it. Now if you want to be below 4 or 3 hours, that's a different thing..

[@TeamTechSkaters]

Harsh judgements. Its an accomplishment no matter the person.